Ch.2 Psychological Research Full Test Bank 14th Edition

Student name:__________

1) The text opens the research methods chapter by recounting Kitty Genovese's rape and murder, in which not a single neighbor came to her aid. Describe how each step of the scientific method might be applied to better understand such a phenomenon.

2) The approach used by psychologists to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest is called

A) the trial and error method.
B) the informed speculation method.
C) the scientific method.
D) the educated guessing method.

3) Which of the following is the first step in the scientific method?

A) formulating an explanation
B) identifying questions of interest
C) communicating the findings
D) carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation

4) After identifying the question of interest, which is the next step in the scientific method?

A) formulating an explanation
B) evaluating the findings
C) communicating the findings
D) carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation

5) Which of the following sequences correctly arranges the steps in the scientific method from first to last?

A) identify problem → formulate explanation → carry out research → communicate findings
B) carry out research → formulate explanation → identify problem → communicate findings
C) identify problem → carry out research → formulate explanation → communicate findings
D) carry out research → identify problem → formulate explanation → communicate findings

6) Frederico is presenting the outcomes of an experiment he conducted in a talk at a regional psychology conference. Frederico is engaged in the ________ step of the scientific method, namely ________.

A) first; communicating results
B) first; formulating an explanation
C) last; communicating findings
D) last; formulating an explanation

7) The development of a hypothesis occurs in which of the following steps of the scientific method?

A) formulating an explanation
B) identifying questions of interest
C) communicating the findings
D) carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation

8) Cheng is conducting a research study on the effects of speech defects. As part of his research, he is devising an operational definition of nervousness. Which of the following steps of the scientific method is he at?

A) formulating an explanation
B) carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation
C) communicating the findings
D) identifying questions of interest

9) Collection and analysis of data is done in which of the following steps of the scientific method?

A) formulating an explanation
B) identifying questions of interest
C) communicating the findings
D) carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation

10) Olivia is a psychologist. She wants to use the scientific method to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior. With which of the following steps should she start?

A) formulating an explanation
B) identifying questions of interest for research based on prior research findings
C) communicating her findings
D) carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation

11) ________ are broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest.

A) Theories
B) Hypotheses
C) Operational definitions
D) Suppositions

12) Andrea is reading a broad explanation for why some people are more vulnerable to addiction than are others. This reading material also includes several predictions concerning people's vulnerability to addiction. Andrea is reading a(n)

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) operational definition.
D) supposition.

13) Identify a true statement about theories.

A) They vary in their breadth and level of detail.
B) They are translations of hypotheses into specific procedures.
C) They always agree with the intuitive explanations that people develop in their daily lives.
D) They are predictions stated in a way that allows them to be tested.

14) When compared with the theories about human behavior that people generally develop in their daily lives, those formulated by psychologists are

A) more frequently applied in daily life.
B) harder to test.
C) less comprehensive.
D) more formal.

15) According to Bibb Latané and John Darley's theory of ________, the greater the number of bystanders in an emergency situation, the less likely that any single person will come forward to help.

A) diffusion of responsibility
B) collective morality
C) social disengagement
D) collective responsibility

16) "People with opposite personality traits are more likely to be attracted to each other." This is a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) correlation.
C) theory.
D) operational definition.

17) A hypothesis is best defined as a

A) prediction stated in a way that allows it to be tested.
B) specification of a variable in terms of the procedures that will be used to measure it.
C) broad, general explanation of the phenomenon of interest.
D) behavior, event, or other characteristic that can assume different values.

18) When asked to define "popularity," Brianna offers, "It's when everyone likes you." Chrissy suggests, "It's basically the number of friends you have."How do the two girls' definitions differ?

A) Chrissy's is a procedural definition; Brianna's is not.
B) Brianna's is an operational definition; Chrissy's is not.
C) Brianna's is a procedural definition; Chrissy's is not.
D) Chrissy's is an operational definition; Brianna's is not.

19) Identify an operational definition of happiness.

A) an individual's feeling of joy
B) an individual's sense of achievement and contentment
C) an individual's self-rating on a 10-point happiness scale
D) an individual's feeling of acceptance in a society

20) Which of the following statements is accurate about operational definitions?

A) They are usually untestable.
B) They are independent of the creativity of the researcher.
C) Many operational definitions are usually possible for a given hypothesis.
D) They translate actual procedures into abstract con­cepts.

21) Which of the following statements best expresses the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis?

A) A theory is more focused than a hypothesis.
B) A theory is broader than a hypothesis.
C) A theory is the same as a hypothesis.
D) A theory is unrelated to a hypothesis.

22) Prediction is to explanation what ________ is to ________.

A) hypothesis; theory
B) theory; hypothesis
C) variable; supposition
D) hypothesis; variable

23) Which of the following sequences is correct?

A) operational definition → hypothesis → theory
B) operational definition → theory → hypothesis
C) hypothesis → theory → operational definition
D) theory → hypothesis → operational definition

24) Which of the following defines the term "research"?

A) broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest
B) the manipulation implemented by an experimenter
C) the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
D) a systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge

25) Which of the following types of research offers insights into relationships between variables but cannot determine causality?

A) descriptive and correlational research
B) correlational and experimental research
C) experimental and descriptive research
D) folk and experiential research

26) Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis is known as

A) experimental research.
B) archival research.
C) naturalistic research.
D) a case study.

27) Mark is a criminal psychologist. For a study, he is using newspaper clippings that are available in a federal database. Mark is conducting a(n)

A) case study.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) archival research study.
D) double-blind experiment.

28) Wallace is engaged in archival research. In which of the following projects is he most likely engaged?

A) comparing the effects of cell phone distractions to those of text message distractions on participants' performance in a driving simulator
B) asking a large sample of community dwellers a set of questions about their perceptions of healthcare reform
C) recording language comprehension deficits in a woman with left hemisphere brain damage
D) examining the registrar's records at a state university to explore the relationship between SAT scores and freshman GPA

29) Which of the following statements is true about archival research?

A) Existing records used in archival research are always complete.
B) Archival research is relatively inexpensive to conduct.
C) Archival research involves the observation of naturally occurring behavior.
D) Archival research involves surveys and questionnaires.

30) Evelyn, a psychology graduate, watches parent–child interactions in a park. She simply records what she sees and does not make a change in the situation. The method she uses is known as

A) naturalistic observation.
B) archival research.
C) experimentation.
D) a case study.

31) Naturalistic observation entails

A) the introduction of small changes to a habitat.
B) the examination of existing records, such as official documents.
C) questioning individuals directly to find out what they think, feel, and do.
D) the researcher simply documenting what occurs.

32) Maryam is a student of behavioral psychology. She is currently conducting a research study that involves recording instances of physical aggression among children in a schoolyard at recess. Maryam is most likely conducting

A) naturalistic observation.
B) experimental research.
C) a survey.
D) correlational research.

33) Angel is a psychologist who conducts research studies frequently. If she is currently working on a naturalistic observation study, in which of the following tasks is Angel most likely engaged?

A) asking participants a set of questions about the effects of outdoor activities on issues related to anxiety and depression
B) recording interactions between middle-level managers in an accountancy firm
C) conducting an in-depth investigation of a boy with exceptional musical abilities
D) examining crime statistics compiled by the Department of Justice to see if the rate of property crimes is related to the rate of violent crimes

34) Which of the following descriptive research methods is correctly matched with a description?

A) archival research—in-depth investigation of an individual
B) naturalistic observation—behavior is investigated in the environment in which it typically occurs, without intervention by the researcher
C) case study—a sample is asked a series of questions about their thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors
D) survey research—existing data is examined to test a hypothesis

35) Which of the following statements is true about descriptive research?

A) It is the only way psychologists can establish cause-and-effect relationships.
B) It is the only type of research in which the conditions are created by the researcher.
C) It tells us about the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.
D) It is designed to systematically investigate a person, group, or patterns of behavior.

36) Felix's research focuses on an adolescent who committed a mass murder at his school. Felix uses data from the adolescent's school and medical records and interviews the adolescent's friends, family, and teachers. Which type of research is Felix engaged in?

A) archival research
B) naturalistic observation
C) case study
D) survey

37) Which of the following statements best expresses the relationship between a sample and a population?

A) A sample includes a population.
B) A population includes a sample.
C) A population is similar to a sample.
D) A sample is completely separate from a population.

38) Amy is conducting a survey of dating attitudes and behaviors among young adults as part of her master's thesis work. Amy distributes questionnaires to 200 randomly selected students enrolled in an introductory psychology course at her university. The 200 students constitute Amy's ________. The people whom she assumes her results will generalize are termed the ________.

A) control group; population
B) experimental group; population
C) population; sample
D) sample; population

39) Wilma is undertaking survey research. Which of the following is she probably doing?

A) recording the behaviors of sea lions in their natural habitat
B) observing the problem-solving strategies of an extremely gifted middle school girl
C) comparing students' performances on abstract and concrete versions of problems
D) asking a sample of students a series of questions about their sexual attitudes and behaviors

40) Dr. Estevez prepares a set of questions to ask college students about their drinking behavior and their attitudes toward alcohol. Dr. Estevez is undertaking a(n)

A) survey research.
B) case study.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) archival research.

41) Dr. Gigliotti is conducting an in-depth, intensive investigation of a patient with dissociative identity disorder. He uses psychological tests and interviews to better understand the patient. Dr. Gigliotti is undertaking a(n)

A) survey research.
B) archival research.
C) case study.
D) naturalistic observation.

42) ________ is an in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or small group of people.

A) Archival research
B) Survey research
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Case study

43) Which of the following researchers is conducting a case study?

A) Dr. Henriette, who is investigating the effect of word imageability on list memory by handing out questionnaires
B) Dr. Innis, who is investigating in detail the tactile perception of a blind woman
C) Dr. Jefferson, who is observing children on a playground
D) Dr. Kulik, who is studying newspaper stories on serial killers

44) Which of the following terms is defined as behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way?

A) variables
B) constants
C) coefficients
D) control groups

45) Correlation research is

A) research in which an investigator simply observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation.
B) research in which people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes.
C) research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated.
D) research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis.

46) Irving has noticed a pattern: The more alcohol people drink, the more aggressive they seem to be. Which research method is aimed at verifying a relationship between two variables?

A) naturalistic observation
B) case study
C) correlational research
D) archival research

47) Which term is most nearly synonymous with the term correlation?

A) association
B) explanation
C) observation
D) manipulation

48) The correlation coefficient ranges from ________ to ________.

A) 1; 10
B) +1.0; −1.0
C) 0; 1
D) −10; +10

49) The strength and direction of the relationship between the two variables are represented by a mathematical statistic known as a(n)

A) standard deviation.
B) affiliation.
C) operational definition.
D) correlation.

50) A positive correlation indicates that

A) as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other increases.
B) as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other decreases.
C) little or no relationship exists between two variables.
D) one variable causes the other.

51) Using a sample of young adolescents, Dr. Nguyen finds a correlation of +.55 between scores on a measure of neglectful or uninvolved parenting and scores on a measure of delinquent behavior. Which of the following might Dr. Nguyen legitimately conclude?

A) Uninvolved parenting causes juvenile delinquency.
B) Parenting that is more neglectful is related to a lower degree of delinquent behavior.
C) Uninvolved parenting is unrelated to delinquency.
D) Parenting that is more neglectful is related to a higher degree of delinquent behavior.

52) Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables?

A) −.75
B) +.60
C) .00
D) +.30

53) Which of the following sequences of correlation coefficients correctly arranges the relationships between three pairs of two variables in order of increasing strength?

A) −.60, +.10, +.50
B) +.10, +.50, −.60
C) −.60, +.50, +.10
D) .00, −.60, +.50

54) In a negative correlation

A) the values of both variables increase simultaneously.
B) as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other decreases.
C) the values of both variables decrease simultaneously.
D) one variable is the cause of the other variable.

55) Little or no relationship between two variables is represented by

A) a negative sign.
B) sigma.
C) zero or a number close to zero.
D) a positive sign.

56) Hui conducts a correlational study on people's height and their vulnerability to anxiety. Her study establishes that no relationship exists between these two variables. This correlation is most likely represented by

A) +.01.
B) +10.0.
C) −1.0.
D) +1.0.

57) Experimental research is to correlational research what ________ is to ________.

A) association; cause
B) description; prediction
C) cause; association
D) description; association

58) The only way psychologists can establish cause-and-effect relationships through research is by conducting

A) correlational research.
B) a survey.
C) experimental research.
D) a case study.

59) Dr. Ingram deliberately varied the presentation of items on a list and later measured participants' recall of the items. Dr. Ingram conducted ________ research.

A) correlational
B) archival
C) observational
D) experimental

60) Experimental research requires that the responses of ________ group(s) be examined.

A) at least one
B) at least five
C) at least two
D) at least three

61) Experimental group is to control group what ________ is to ________.

A) treatment; no treatment
B) no treatment; treatment
C) independent variable; dependent variable
D) dependent variable; independent variable

62) Martina is conducting a research study with two groups, namely group A and group B. Group A receives a treatment for severe depression, while group B does not receive any treatment. Group A in Martina's study is the

A) research group.
B) experimental group.
C) control group.
D) secondary group.

63) Martina is conducting a research study with two groups, namely group A and group B. Group A receives a treatment for severe depression, while group B does not receive any treatment. In this scenario, group B of Martina's study is the ________.

A) primary group
B) experimental group
C) control group
D) secondary group

64) Why are control groups included in experiments?

A) to determine whether two variables are correlated
B) to ascertain cause-and-effect relationships
C) to ensure that participant characteristics are essentially the same in each group
D) to translate the hypothesis into something testable

65) In an experiment studying the effects of alcohol on social anxiety, alcohol is the ________ variable.

A) confounding
B) dependent
C) independent
D) random

66) In an experiment studying the effects of alcohol on social anxiety, social anxiety is the ________ variable.

A) confounding
B) dependent
C) independent
D) random

67) In an experiment, which of the following statements is true about the dependent variable?

A) It is under the experimenter's control and remains constant.
B) It is randomized across different experimental groups.
C) It is measured by the researcher and is expected to change.
D) It is decided by the researcher based on chance alone.

68) In an experiment, the independent variable is

A) not under the control of the researcher.
B) decided by the researcher on the basis of chance alone.
C) measured by the researcher and is expected to change.
D) not determined by the actions of those taking part in the experiment.

69) Doctors Chase and Sanborn are conducting an experiment on the effects of caffeine on memory. Participants are randomly assigned to a caffeine or a no-caffeine group; their recall of items on a word list is later assessed. Which pair correctly identifies a variable in this experiment?

A) caffeine—dependent variable
B) caffeine—independent variable
C) word recall—independent variable
D) word recall—experimental variable

70) Doctors Chase and Sanborn are conducting an experiment on the effects of caffeine on memory. Participants are randomly assigned to a caffeine or a no-caffeine group; their recall of items on a word list is later assessed. In this experiment, word recall is the ________ variable.

A) subject
B) control
C) independent
D) dependent

71) Doctors Chase and Sanborn are conducting an experiment on the effects of caffeine on memory. Participants are randomly assigned to a caffeine or a no-caffeine group; their recall of items on a word list is later assessed. Which pair below correctly names and identifies the variables in this experiment?

A) word recall—control variable; caffeine—experimental variable
B) word recall—independent variable; caffeine—dependent variable
C) word recall—dependent variable; caffeine—independent variable
D) word recall—experimental variable; caffeine—control variable

72) In a typical Latané and Darley "bystander" experiment, ________ is the independent variable and ________ is the dependent variable.

A) the presence of bystanders; whether a false emergency occurs
B) whether a false emergency occurs; the presence of bystanders
C) whether the participant helps; the number of people present
D) the number of people present; whether the participant helps

73) The purpose of random assignment is to

A) combine the results of a number of similar studies.
B) determine how likely it is that the results of a treatment were due to chance.
C) ensure that participant characteristics are equivalent across the various groups.
D) determine whether two variables are related.

74) In which of the following procedures are participants assigned to different experimental groups on the basis of chance and chance alone?

A) operationalization
B) correlation
C) random sampling method
D) random assignment to condition

75) An experimenter flips a coin for each participant and assigns the participant to group A when "heads" came up and to group B when "tails" came up. This process is referred to as

A) operational sampling.
B) random assignment to condition.
C) purposive sampling.
D) random correlation.

76) In a study examining the bystander effect in children, researchers looked at three conditions. In which condition were they able to establish that the bystander effect was caused by diffusion of responsibility?

A) Children were alone when the adult was in need.
B) A group of children were in the room when the adult was in need.
C) A group of children were in the room, but only one was physically able to help when the adult was in need.
D) The study showed that children did not exhibit the bystander effect.

77) Which of the following is an advantage of archival research?

A) It provides a thorough, in-depth understanding of participants.
B) It provides a sample of people in their natural environment.
C) A small sample can be used to infer attitudes and behavior of a larger population.
D) Data collection is easy because data already exist.

78) Which of the following is an advantage of survey research?

A) It provides a thorough, in-depth understanding of participants.
B) It provides a sample of people in their natural environment.
C) A small sample can be used to infer attitudes and behavior of a larger population.
D) Data collection is easy because data already exists.

79) Identify a shortcoming of survey research.

A) It is dependent on the availability of existing data.
B) The results are not generalizable beyond the sample.
C) It is often very expensive to conduct.
D) The sample may not be representative of the larger population.

80) Which of the following is an advantage of a case study?

A) It provides a thorough, in-depth understanding of participants.
B) It provides a sample of people in their natural environment.
C) A small sample can be used to infer attitudes and behavior of a larger population.
D) Data collection is easy because data already exists.

81) Which of the following is a disadvantage of a case study?

A) It is dependent on the availability of existing data.
B) The "typically occurring habitat" being observed cannot be controlled.
C) Results may not be generalizable beyond the sample.
D) It fails to provide a thorough, in-depth understanding of participants.

82) Paul is testing the effectiveness of a new treatment for anxiety disorders. He intends to administer the treatment to a group of participants and measure their levels of anxiety. What should Paul introduce into his research design to rule out factors other than the new treatment in the alleviation of anxiety?

A) deception
B) a control group
C) diversity in the group of participants
D) ethical research practices

83) Which of the following researchers is carrying out deception?

A) Ahmed asks the participants in a study about creativity to build structures using building blocks.
B) Grace pretends to be a participant in an experiment and does the opposite of what other participants do.
C) Lena observes a few children in a public playground to understand the development of their interpersonal skills.
D) Riya observes 200 dolphins to understand the effect of age on their navigation skills.

84) Statistically meaningful results that make it possible for researchers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses is known as a

A) mutually exclusive result.
B) subjective outcome.
C) significant outcome.
D) conditional result.

85) Matteo, a psychologist, is conducting a study with children and adolescents as participants. However, he is using the same procedures and settings as that of an earlier study that was conducted on adults. He is doing this to increase confidence in prior findings. From the information given in this scenario, it can be said that Matteo is engaged in

A) replicated research.
B) archival research.
C) parallel research.
D) reconstructed research.

86) Iyesha reads a journal article reporting a study in which a small sample of women undertook tests of spatial ability at two points during their menstrual cycle. Iyesha conducts a similar study using not only spatial ability but also verbal ability tests. In addition, Iyesha tests a larger sample of women. She aims to confirm the findings of the study mentioned in the journal. Iyesha performs a

A) meta-analysis.
B) replicated research.
C) significance test.
D) control study.

87) Kendra is combining the results of a number of experiments to yield an overall conclusion. Kendra is performing

A) a meta-analysis.
B) replication research.
C) a cross-validation.
D) correlational research.

88) In the context of the use of deception, identify the statement that accurately captures the opinion of most psychologists.

A) It is integral to scientifically valid research.
B) It is encouraged in psychological research because it adds to the credibility of a study.
C) It is sometimes necessary to safeguard a study's true purpose.
D) It is unethical and must never be used in psychological research.

89) Before participating in an experiment, the participants must sign a document affirming that they have been told the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve, what risks the experiment may hold, and the fact that their participation is purely voluntary and they may terminate it at any time. This refers to which ethical principle of research?

A) informed consent
B) debriefing
C) experimental manipulation
D) significant outcome

90) In the context of ethical research, identify a component of informed consent in a study.

A) a detailed explanation of the study and its procedures
B) a statement of the potential risks of participating in the study
C) an assurance that the participants selected are from diverse populations
D) the knowledge that at some point in the study, deception will be involved

91) Joshua, a behavioral psychologist, asks participants to sign a document before beginning his experiment. Joshua also tells them that their participation is completely voluntary and that they can leave the experiment at any time. Joshua is

A) analyzing his participants.
B) obtaining informed consent.
C) using deception.
D) providing a detailed explanation of the study.

92) After a research study, the experimenter should debrief the participants. In debriefing, the experimenter

A) reiterates that the study was voluntary.
B) provides a detailed explanation of the study.
C) asks the participants to sign a document confirming informed consent.
D) assures the participants of confidentiality.

93) Dr. O'Malley is informing participants before he begins the experiment that their participation is completely voluntary and that they can stop taking part at any time. Dr. Hensley is providing a detailed explanation of the study to participants who have just completed participating in the study. Which of the following statements is true?

A) Dr. O'Malley is obtaining informed consent from his participants. Dr. Hensley is debriefing her participants.
B) Dr. O'Malley is debriefing his participants. Dr. Hensley is obtaining informed consent from her participants.
C) Dr. O'Malley is assuring his participants of confidentiality; and Dr. Hensley is communicating the results of the study to her participants.
D) Dr. O'Malley and Dr. Hensley are both debriefing their participants.

94) Which of the following sequences best reflects the order of events in an experiment?

A) informed consent → experiment → debriefing
B) informed consent → debriefing → experiment
C) debriefing → informed consent → experiment
D) experiment → informed consent → debriefing

95) Which of the following is a reason that college students are often used as participants in psychological research?

A) They are representative of the population at large.
B) They cost the researcher very little.
C) They have a basic understanding of research methodology.
D) Researchers do not need to obtain informed consent from college students.

96) In which of the following ways is a sample population of college students different from the general population it is implicitly intended to represent?

A) College students tend to come from Eastern cultures.
B) College students tend to be from nondemocratic countries.
C) College students are educated.
D) College students tend to be poor.

97) Which of the following guidelines is true regarding the use of nonhuman animals in experiments?

A) Researchers must minimize discomfort, illness, and pain for the animals.
B) Researchers must house, feed, and care for the animals properly.
C) Researchers must promote the animals' well-being, at least for some species.
D) Research with animals has failed to provide psychologists with valuable information.

98) Factors that distort the way the independent variable affects the dependent variable are referred to as

A) double-blinds.
B) placebo effects.
C) experimental bias.
D) participant bias.

99) To guard against participant expectations biasing the results of an experiment, the experimenter may

A) disclose to participants how earlier participants tested.
B) explain to the participant what the desired outcome should be.
C) try to disguise the true purpose of the experiment.
D) allow the participant to interact with people who have already been part of the experiment.

100) When cues are transmitted to participants about how they are expected to behave in particular experimental conditions, the research results may reflect ________ expectations. When people develop their own ideas about the topic of the research, the investigation's outcomes may be biased by ________.

A) experimenter; participant expectations
B) experimenter; experimenter expectations
C) participant; participant expectations
D) participant; experimenter expectations

101) In Dr. Suarez's social psychology lab, some college students taking part in the research suspect that interpersonal attraction processes are under study. This knowledge influences the way they interact with each other. In a play session during a child development study, Dr. Thomas' research assistants are more likely to unconsciously reinforce aggressive behavior among children who view a violent video clip than among children viewing a nonviolent clip. Dr. Suarez's research is susceptible to ________ expectations. Dr. Thomas' work is prone to ________.

A) experimenter; participant expectations
B) experimenter; experimenter expectations
C) participant; participant expectations
D) participant; experimenter expectations

102) What is a placebo?

A) an actor employed by a researcher
B) an unethical experiment done on nonhumans
C) a false experimental treatment
D) a bystander in Latané and Darley's experiment

103) A ________ is a false treatment, such as a pill, "drug," or other substance, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient.

A) double-blind procedure
B) simulation
C) placebo
D) natural procedure

104) A team of researchers conduct an experiment to test the effectiveness of a new drug in treating anxiety disorders. The participants in the control group receive sugar pills without active ingredients, while those in the experimental group receive the new, anti-anxiety drug. In this example, the researchers use a

A) double-blind procedure.
B) correlation coefficient.
C) placebo.
D) single-blind procedure.

105) Laura is a clinical research psychologist. She conducts an experiment that involves a placebo. Which of the following statements is true about her experiment?

A) All participants receive a treatment.
B) Only the participants in the control group are aware of the purpose of the research.
C) Laura is unaware of the nature of the drug that is being administered.
D) Only the participants in the experimental group are aware of the purpose of the research.

106) A placebo minimizes ________; a double-blind procedure minimizes ________.

A) participant expectations; experimenter expectations
B) participant bias; participant expectations
C) experimenter expectations; participant expectations
D) experimenter bias; experimenter expectations

107) Arjun, a psychologist, conducts an experiment to study the side effects of a drug. In this experiment, as Arjun wants to ensure accurate assessment of the drug's effects, the participants and the experimenter who interacts with the participants are unaware of the nature of the drug that is being administered. Arjun is conducting a

A) double-blind procedure.
B) control treatment.
C) placebo experiment.
D) single-blind procedure.

108) A pharmaceutical company is conducting an experiment to test the effectiveness of a tricyclic antidepressant. Which of the following, if true, would indicate that the experimenters used a placebo?

A) The participants were assigned to the experimental or control groups by drawing lots.
B) The participants were informed about the medication they would be taking and its possible side effects before starting the treatment.
C) The participants in both groups did not know if they were getting a real or a false treatment.
D) The research assistants who administered the drugs were asked to establish rapport with the participants.

109) A double-blind procedure is administered to overcome

A) participant expectations.
B) memory bias.
C) reporting bias.
D) experimenter expectations.

110) A pharmaceutical company wishes to test the efficacy of a new antidepressant using a double-blind procedure. Which alternative correctly describes the procedure the company would use?

A) The research assistants would know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each patient would also know which type of pill he or she was taking.
B) The research assistants would know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each patient, though, would not know which type of pill he or she was taking.
C) The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each patient, though,would know which type of pill he or she was taking.
D) The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Also, each patient would not know which type of pill he or she was taking.

111) Distinguish between a hypothesis and a theory. Provide an example of a hypothesis, along with operational definitions of the variables included in your hypothesis.

112) Select two of the following aphorisms: (1) Birds of a feather flock together; (2) Opposites attract; (3) The more the merrier; (4) Two heads are better the one; (5) Two's company; three's a crowd. Translate each aphorism that you select into a testable hypothesis. Provide operational definitions of each of the variables in each hypothesis.

113) Select and describe a behavioral or mental phenomenon of particular interest to you. Describe how one might use descriptive, correlational, and experimental techniques to shed light on the phenomenon.

114) List and briefly describe three descriptive research methods. Provide an original example of each. Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of each of the methods you describe.

115) What are the advantages and disadvantages of archival research?

116) Diya, a sociocultural psychologist, is working on an archival research project. She aims to understand more about the lifestyle of unemployed people. Identify the possible sources of data for her research.

117) Discuss the shortcomings of naturalistic observation.

118) Juan aims to study early childcare practices in uncontacted tribes across the world. For ethical reasons, Juan is not allowed to contact the people of these tribes through any means. However, he is allowed to observe them discreetly from approved observation stations. Which type of descriptive research would Juan choose for his research and why?

119) Describe survey research, highlighting not only its advantages, but also several issues that researchers must consider when designing survey research.

120) Ali's research aims to understand sexually deviant behavior in women. He proposes to collect data for his research through in-person interviews with the participants. What problems is Ali likely to face because of the type of research he has chosen?

121) How is a case study different from a survey? Describe the importance of case studies as a method of research.

122) Irene is studying a child savant in the autism spectrum. Which method of research is Irene using? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method.

123) A researcher finds a correlation of −.45 between the amount of stress participants report having experienced recently and the participants' scores on an index of physical health. What does this mean? Provide a one-sentence interpretation of this correlation coefficient. Provide three distinct association mechanisms that might explain this correlation.

124) Suggest (a) two variables that are most likely positively correlated; (b) two variables that are most likely negatively correlated; and (c) two variables that are probably uncorrelated.

125) How is it that the experimental method allows researchers to draw cause-and-effect conclusions? Identify the critical elements of the experimental method and explain how each helps enable the development of valid causal conclusions.

126) Suggest one variable other than the presence and number of bystanders that you think might influence the likelihood that an individual will come to someone's aid. State a hypothesis and explain how you might test it experimentally. Specify the independent and dependent variables, making sure to provide an operational definition of each. Describe the experimental and control groups and briefly outline the procedure.

127) Define the terms replicated research and meta-analysis. Identify the role of replicated research and meta-analysis in hypothesis testing and theory building.

128) Occasionally, psychology has been described as the science of the behavior of college sophomores. Discuss some of the specific criticisms of psychology implied by this charge. How might these shortcomings be rectified?

129) Emilia's experiment aims to study how social approval works as a motivation at workplaces. Her experiment involves the use of deception. List some of the safeguards involved in the ethical guidelines that Emilia should keep in mind to protect her participants.

130) Jonas is planning to use chimpanzees to test the efficacy of a new antidepressant. What are some of the guidelines he should keep in mind before using animals in his research?

131) Discuss the use of nonhumans for research.

132) A pharmaceutical company has developed a new ADHD medication and wishes to test its effectiveness. Identify the threats that validity researchers might face in an experimental test of the medication's efficacy and suggest how these threats may be overcome.

133) Diego is a psychology student. He needs to read several research articles for his assignment. What are the critical thinking questions that Diego should keep in mind when he reads each article?